Debunked

A couple of weeks ago, Keely was poking around in my jewelry box.  A thought crossed my mind that she might find her and Quinn's baby teeth, as this is where I 'hide' them.  I haven't made much of an effort to really hide them because they are both done losing their initial 8 teeth and frankly, I know the 'Tooth Fairy' is not going to be around much longer.  Quite frankly, I'm not sad about the end of this era.  In any event, the baby teeth have managed to stay hidden...until that day.  I knew there was a chance she might find them, but I took my chances.  And find them she did.  I couldn't lie, they already know there is no Easter Bunny and I'd rather not persist this other mythical creature so I said it's true, there is no Tooth Fairy.  Keely's new theory is that the Tooth Fairy comes, delivers the treat, and deposits the tooth back with me for safe keeping.  Honest to goodness, that's her story. 

In the course of this hub-bub, Quinn actually had a loose tooth.  He hasn't lost a tooth in probably like 3 years, and it was causing him some angst.  He really never was good at losing teeth...remember, he's the one who ate his first tooth because he was too afraid to pull it out.  By the last few, he became much braver actually pulling them out and handing them to me (my favorite, at the Fall Festival - now where was I supposed to put that tooth?!?!).  Apparently, the absence of losing a tooth for so long has made him lose that bravado.  He did lose it though, at school in the cafeteria.  It's strange to see such a big tooth come out of his mouth. 

So you can see where I am going...this tooth lost in the wake of the discovery of baby teeth just a week or so earlier.  I told him that since the Tooth Fairy wasn't real, he wouldn't be getting anything.  He did protest...but I honestly didn't have any cash.  So his sister came to the rescue.  She donated $3 of her own money to his treat.  She only had two singles, but dug around for some change because she said that once she received $5 so he deserved more than $2.  It was very cute and sweet of her. 

As usual, I made the trade and in the morning, Quinn awoke to $3.  Not a word was spoken afterwards, but I'm not sure how many more of these teeth trades we will be going through.  He does have a lot of adult teeth coming in, so there will be several more losses in the near future. 

Coincidentally, while we were at Grandma and Grandpa's last weekend, James was handed his baby teeth that were found in some cleaning of various rooms and drawers...so the TF myth would have been debunked then if not earlier.  It made me wonder about these traditions and I honestly think it's kind of strange that we save all of our kids' teeth!   Of course, I'm still doing it too...

Because I like to spice up the posts with pictures and don't have one of Quinn's tooth missing, these are from a day trip we did earlier this month to the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico.  It was a lot of fun, the museum is very well done and free (nice perk!).  

Back to School

I feel like I always say this, but this time it's most definitely true - the summer flew by in a flash and I can't believe it's over!

Yesterday was the first day of school.  Quinn started 5th grade, Keely 3rd.  The start of this school year was very different than last.  The comfort of a school having one year under their belts, friendships already established.  They both have new teachers and we met them at Open House last week.  Keely's drama is having a male teacher for the very first time.  He seems nice, and I think it will be fine but she always has her heart set on a certain teacher, or in this case a certain gender.  Quinn likes his teacher.  She seems very energetic, and he says she tells great stories.  This is his last year in elementary school, and possibly our last year at this school due to boundary adjustments.  So we will enjoy this year of familiarity and cross those bridges when we come to them.

Quinn has mostly the same class as last year minus a few children to the boundary adjustments.  He did get one new student in his class though...and you'll never guess his name.  Another Quinn!  What are the chances?!?!  He doesn't seem bothered by having to go by Quinn D. this year, but it's just one of my pet peeves that my children not have those names that multiply in school.  I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later, but still.  Oh well.

Along with a new school year come the flurry of other activities that start back up.  It's going to be a busy fall for us.  Here's the rundown.  Both kids are taking guitar lessons on Monday nights through the County.  Quinn is going to join band (instrument TBD, but his first choice is alto saxophone).  Both kids are going to join the running program at school - Girls on the Go and Young Men in Motion, and they will run 5Ks later this fall.  Keely has been invited to join her friends' soccer team - she played with them on an indoor team this past winter, and she's thrilled to join them as a permanent member - so that means practice on Thursday evenings and games on Saturdays.  Quinn is playing Flag Football after a two year hiatus and is very excited.  Both kids are doing Scouts...Quinn continuing on with his Den/Pack, and Keely joining a Girl Scout troup through a local church as a follow up to doing Girl Scout camp at the beginning of the summer.  Both kids are enrolled in CCD again on Sunday mornings.  I think that's it - when I type it all up, it seems overwhelming but it's most likely not.

As an aside, Quinn has a new school related responsibility - bus patrol.  He had to apply late last year, and be given a recommendation by his teacher.  He was accepted into the program, and now is responsible for helping to keep order on the bus to and from school.  He gets to wear a patrol belt and is very proud of this new privilege.  He takes it seriously too...on just the 2nd day of school, he reported a child who was misbehaving by disrespecting a classmate (hitting someone) and for using bad language (cussing, as Keely told me). 

 I always get excited at the beginning of a school year, even though I'm not going back to school.  It's the excitement of change, the new-ness and a fresh start.  Like those crisp mornings of fall, it's a crisp new year for the kids and I know it will be a great one for them!